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- Northstar SGs cancelled, Palisades updates
Northstar SGs cancelled
Regrets, but Far West Masters and Northstar have jointly made the decision
this afternoon that it won't be possible to hold our SG races on Thursday.
With over 2 ft of snow since the storm moved in on Sunday and more coming
tonight before the weather starts to clear tomorrow, there are simply too
many challenges to overcome and not enough time to be able to prepare the
race venue for SG racing.
We appreciate all the effort put in by the Northstar organizers to try to
pull off these races, but the weather has won out.
Palisades updates
Venue change: we will be racing both Fri and Sat on Racers/Motts, off the Siberia chair on the upper mountain.
Parking reminder: parking reservation REQUIRED on Saturday!
Free reservations inventory will be released at 7pm tonight Tue 4/1 - the noon release was sold out by 12:01pm so get on it!!
Paid reservation also available for $30
Entry deadline extended to 8pm Wed 4/2. With the cancellation of Thursday's Northstar SGs, we can keep Palisades registration open for another day on ASR:
Banquet signups: register or add a guest to bring family or friends!
Register yourself on ASR, then fill out a simple form to request extra guest tickets
or click the link below to check extra ticket requests.
Friday BBQ and General Meeting: Eddie Mozen will be putting on a post-race BBQ for us
after Friday's racing on the front deck of the Members Locker Room at the Palisades base
(near the Exhibition race building). Don't miss it - good food and our annual general
membership meeting where you can bring questions and comments on how to improve our program.
Palisades release: and one more thing... If you haven't yet signed the
Palisades/Alpine winter events release, PLEASE do it now!
Text message updates: sign up to receive race info updates by text message:
[3:30pm Tue 4/2/2025]
- Northstar-Palisades season finals info
A few reminders for our 2024-2025 season wrapup the first week of April,
with the rescheduled Northstar NSS SG races on Thursday 4/3 followed by
GS and SL at Palisades on Fri-Sat 4/4-5 and our season banquet on Saturday evening.
We will also have our annual membership meeting following Friday's GS race
at Palisades (location TBA).
Be sure to review the parking information in the event announcements
so you understand the free and paid parking options at both venues.
A parking reservation is REQUIRED on Saturday 4/5 at Palisades, so make sure
you get that taken care of!
Our season banquet on Saturday evening at Palisades will include dinner,
season awards, raffle prizes, and a silent auction to benefit the Far West Masters
Scholarship Program
All four races and the banquet signup are open on our masters.AdminSkiRacing.com
registration site. If you are bringing family or friends to the banquet,
register yourself on ASR for the banquet and click the link below to fill out
a short form requesting additional tickets for your guests; their banquet fees
will be added to your ticket cost when invoices are posted.
The early registration deadline for race entries is
Sun 3/30 and online registration for all signups
is 8pm Tue 4/1. (note the earlier-than-usual
close of registration on ASR so we have time to prepare for the Thursday
races at Northstar as well as Palisades races and banquet)
** NORTHSTAR AND PALISADES RELEASES REQUIRED **
Both Northstar and Palisades required that ALL participants sign and submit
their winter events release form. If you already signed this season,
e.g. before the cancelled March Northstar races or for the January
Alpine/Palisades event you're all set, everyone else PLEASE
sign the area releases prior to the races next week.
Finally, sign up to receive text notifications of race information announcements
by filling out the opt-in form at this link:
Only people who have opted-in by filling out the form will receive text messages
and you can stop receiving texts at any time by simply replying "STOP".
[28-Mar-2025]
- Northstar GS cancelled; SG reschedule
After considering the weather and snow outlook for the remainder of this week and
the likelihood that we would only be able to run a short GS course
with soft conditions on Saturday, Northstar and Far West Masters have
agreed that it is appropriate to make the call today and cancel the planned
Saturday GS race.
But!! We have some good news coming out of this disappointing schedule cancellation!
Details still need to be confirmed, but the tentative plan proposed today is to
reschedule the two Northstar SG races to Thursday Apr. 3, immediately preceding
our season finals GS and SL races at nearby Palisades on Fri-Sat Apr. 4-5.
That will give us a true finals event to wrap up the 24-25 season with
SG, GS, and SL races and our season awards banquet.
[3:30pm Wed 3/13/2025]
- Northstar SGs cancelled
We spoke with the Northstar Race Department late this afternoon
and the decision is that the Friday 3/14 SG races will not be possible.
The weather forecasts over the past week have consistently predicted a
significant winter storm impacting the Sierra on Wed-Thu.
Given the high confidence in a major midweek storm, it would not be
possible to prepare the race venue for SG racing by Friday.
Outlook for GS racing on Saturday is still unknown, it will depend
on what happens with weather and snow this week. We will stay in contact
with Northstar over the coming days to assess the feasibility of racing
on Saturday and will send an update as soon as we have anything definite.
[7pm 09-Mar-202t]
- Race news text message service
We are in the process of setting up a new text messaging service for sending
race information updates and will be trying it out for the first time
at this weekend's Northstar races. Text messages will supplement our
existing services for sending news and race information updates by email
and we hope will be more convenient for some of you, especially on
race weekends when many of us are traveling and rely on our phones
to keep in touch
In order to receive text messages, you must opt-in by filling out the form at this link:
We will only send time-sensitive membership and race information announcements via text messages.
Only people who have opted-in by filling out the form will receive text messages
and you can stop receiving texts at any time by simply replying "STOP".
If you have questions about the text messaging, contact us at membership@farwestmasters.org.
[09-Mar-2025]
- Northstar SG-GS races
Our March schedule continues with a SG doubleheader and a GS race at Northstar.
Both SG races on Friday are included in the 2025 masters National Speed Series (NSS).
Register online on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com (log into your ASR account to register).
Early registration deadline is Sun 3/9;
registration closes at 8pm PT Wed 3/12.
Parking: Village View lots in walking distance of the base village are free weekdays,
paid and require reservations on weekend; free parking with shuttle service in Castle Peak lots.
See the Northstar parking information page for details.
** Northstar competition release ** is REQUIRED for all participants.
The release form is available online - please submit early to make race day
checkin easier for everyone!
(enter "N/A" in the Name and Birthdate fields for a Minor participant and sign as the Adult)
[06-Mar-2025]
- Diamond Peak SL races
Our next races are 3 SL races at Diamond Peak on Sat-Sun Mar. 1-2.
To take advantage of the excellent SL race venue, we'll be holding 3 SL races over the 2-day weekend.
There will be 3 runs per day,
with SL #2 split over 2 days -
1st run Sat afternoon after SL #1, 2nd run Sun morning before SL #3.
Register online on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com (log into your ASR account to register).
Early registration deadline is Sun 2/23;
registration closes at 8pm PT Thu 2/27.
The Diamond Peak masters coaches are also offering Friday morning SL training for competitors.
Cost is $115 ($25 training + lift ticket) - purchase online with the link in the event announcement for racer lift purchase.
** Diamond Peak release ** is REQUIRED for all participants.
Submit online on our Masters ASR registration site by registering
for the race signup "Diamond Peak DPSEF Waiver 24-25".
Please submit early to make race day checkin easier for everyone!
[20-Feb-2025]
- Alpine SL and Palisades Bernard Cup GS races
Our next races are a 3-day weekend, with two SL races on Fri Jan. 31 at Alpine,
followed by GS races on Sat-Sun Feb. 1-2 at neighboring Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley).
The weekend GS races are also the annual Bernard Cup event held annually at Palisades Tahoe,
home area of masters pioneer Bob Bernard, with both GS races scored to determine
the winners of the overall age-handicapped Bernard Cup trophy.
Register online on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com (log into your ASR account to register).
Early registration deadline is Sun 1/26;
registration closes at 8pm PT Wed 1/29.
** Palisades release ** is REQUIRED for all particiapnts.
The release form is available online - please submit early to make race day
checkin easier for everyone!
** Palisades parking reservation ** is REQUIRED for the Sat-Sun
GS races at Palisades. (Not needed on weekdays for our Friday Alpine SL races)
Free reservations are limited, or pre-purchase to ensure your parking access.
[25-Jan-2025]
- Mammoth Speed Series SG races
The next races on our January calendar are two days of SG racing
at Mammoth Mountain on Fri-Sat. Jan. 24-25. There will be two SG races
each day, with the first SG race each day counted in the
2025 National Speed Series.
Mammoth will also be offering a training session on the SG venue on Thursday 1/23
to provide all competitors with an opportunity to get on the race venue
and get "up to speed".
Register online on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
Early registration deadline is Sun 1/19;
registration closes at 8pm PT Wed 1/22.
Thursday training:
Mammoth is offering SG training on Thursday 1/23 from noon to approx. 2pm for $30,
allowing all competitors to get on the race hill before the Fri/Sat races.
Pay at the Race Dept office (Team HQ building) and show receipt to the
coaches on the hill to access the training session.
Note for FW Open class competitors:
race awards for the two morning NSS races will be awarded by age class,
but we will score your results in the Far West season standings
under Open class for all who have elected OP for the season.
[15-Jan-2025]
- Sugar Bowl Viva Italia SL results
Our first January races after the holiday break took us to Sugar Bowl
for 2 SL races on Jan. 11-12, returning to a venue where we last raced back in 2012.
It was a sunny but chilly weekend on top of Donner pass, with a cold NE wind
blowing, and the firm conditions were a challenging racing surface for our
field of masters competitors! The Sugar Bowl race crew made us welcome
and put on a good event, with everything running on schedule.
Complete race results are posted on the web site on the Race Results page,
along with updated Season Standings rankings for 2025.
The Sugar Bowl SL races were also the site for 2025 Viva Italia event, with the trophy
awarded to the top man and woman racer in the combined standings using an age-handicap formula.
The Viva Italia has a legendary history from founder John Gianotti and he would have
approved of the grit and determination of the competitors tackling the challenging race hill.
The Viva Italia winners were announced at the post-race awards, with the trophies
awarded to Deb Lewis (W10) and Wences Lada Munoz (M08). And a well-deserved shout-out
to class 2 racer Dave Law, who dominated the field both days and nearly overcame
the daunting handicap of being "too young" in finishing a close runnerup to Wences.
[14-Jan-2025]
- Sugar Bowl Viva Italia SL races
Our first races after the holiday break will be a weekend of SL racing
at Sugar Bowl on Sat-Sun Jan. 11-12. It's been a number of years since we last raced at Sugar Bowl,
so we're very excited to have this venue back on our schedule this season.
This event is also the 2025 Viva Italia Cup, awarded to the top man and woman
in the overall weekend results based on age-handicapped scoring
Weather forecasts are calling for a dry pattern and high pressure
settling in over the west, so we're expecting clear weather for the coming week!
Register online on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
Early registration deadline is Sun 1/5;
registration closes at 8pm PT Thu 1/9.
You can sign up for the races and also purchase your 2025 Far West Masters membership
if you haven't already done so.
Purchase link for racer lift tickets will be sent to registered competitors
early next week, along with additional details on venue, parking, and program schedule
for the weekend. We'll be based at the Mt Judah Main Lodge, racing on DVR run
from the Christmas Tree lift. Post-race pizza party on Saturday will be at Judah Lodge,
plan to stay and enjoy some social time with our fellow racers!
Open class reminder: if this is your first race of the season and you
want to compete in the Open class, contact scoring director
Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org.
[04-Jan-2025]
- December Forerunner Newsletter
The December issue of the Forerunner newsletter has been published.
Communication director Melissa House has pulled together reports
from our season opening training camp and races at Mammoth,
FWM chair Rees Palermo contributes his President's message,
and there's more information about our upcoming season races.
Questions about membership signups?
Contact Mary Feddis at membership@farwestmasters.org
Questions about The Forerunner?
Contact Melissa House at forerunner@farwestmasters.org
Note: the primary distribution method of the Forerunner newsletter will
be electronic publishing through our news email list and here on the web site.
All current members of Far West Masters should receive the newsletter. If you
have any questions, contact us at forerunner@farwestmasters.org for assistance.
[30-Dec-2024]
- Race Signups open on Masters ASR
All race signups for the 2024-25 season are now open on our masters.AdminSkiRacing.com
registration site!
Our next races after the holiday break are Jan. 11-12 with two SL races at Sugar Bowl, and
the Mammoth Speed Series SG races on Jan. 24-25.
Registration is open and we'll be getting more information out over the holidays
to help everyone plan their upcoming race calendar.
[25-Dec-2024]
- Mammoth Season Opener results
Our season opening training camp and GS races at Mammoth Mountain
the first week of December were blessed with spectacular conditions
throughout the training and race days. Best early season conditions
in many years - some said the best opening camp ever!
In a change from our usual race venues, we were on the main Broadway run
all week and it turned out to be very fun. Warm, sunny, and grippy snow all week.
The Mammoth Race Department crew was out in full strength for the weekend
races and put on a first-class competition event.
Complete race results are posted on the web site on the Race Results page,
along with the first Season Standings rankings for 2025.
[25-Dec-2024]
- 2025 Open Class and Season Scoring
Far West Masters races are conducted following the standard US masters age class rules.
An additional option is used by Far West Masters in our division races, allowing competitors
to elect to be scored in an Open class drawn from all age classes rather than their
age class for race awards and season scoring.
All competitors start within their age group in the race start order but may elect to be
scored for race awards based on the overall ranking of Open class participants rather
than within their age class. The season leader bibs are awarded based on the rankings of the Open class.
The 2025 Open class elections list is started with all current season bib holders registered by default.
Everyone else (including "the usual folks") need to explicitly elect to participate in Open class.
It's your choice - no one is obligated or expected to elect Open class - go Open if you'll have fun doing that,
stay in your age class for scoring and awards if you're happy with the standard age class system.
To elect Open class, contact scoring director Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org.
Open class participants will be noted on start lists with "OP" designation and when possible on the finish board so that
all competitors know who is competing within their age class and who is being scored in the overall Open class.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
to participate in the Open class for any event, you MUST elect Open
no later than the noon the day prior to the race.
Day-of-race Open class changes will not be accepted!
[05-Dec-2024]
- Mammoth Season Opener updates
The first good storm series of the season is hitting the west coast
and Sierra ski areas are getting a welcome gift of snow for
the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. We are GO for the Mammoth
masters training camp on Tue-Fri Dec. 3-6 and our opening GS races
on Sat-Sun Dec. 7-8 at Mammoth Mountain
Update on training camp for those attending: we will be
training GS all week (no SL).
Race registration for the opening Mammmoth races and 2024-25 Far West Masters membership
are open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com. Training camp signup is available online on the Mammoth web site.
Please pay your Far West Masters dues if you have not done so yet!! Membership chair
Mary Feddis is doing a lot of work to get new bibs assigned to racers, help her to help
all of us by getting your dues paid so we know which bib numbers can be assigned
Early registration deadline is Sun 12/1; registration closes
at 8pm PT Thu 12/5.
Note: race registration signups for our full season schedule
will be added by mid-December on our masters.AdminSkiRacing.com
registration site. In the meantime, visit the
Season Schedule page to plan
your race season.
[24-Nov-2024]
- Mammoth Dec races and camp
Race registration for our season opening GS races on Dec. 7-8 is now open
on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com!
We have two GS races at Mammoth Mountain on Dec. 7-8, the weekend following
the Thanksgiving holiday. Mammoth is also hosting a 4-day GS/SL training camp
on Tue-Fri Dec. 3-6 prior to the weekend races, which is a good opportunity
to get on skis and get in some preseason race training to get warmed up.
See the event info announcement and training camp flyer for additional details.
Mammoth is offering a discounted lodging package for camp week and race weekend.
** Far West Masters membership reminder** please remember to join or renew
your Far West Masters membership by the renewal deadline Wed. Nov. 20.
Pay your dues by purchasing "2024-2025 Far West Masters membership" through your account
on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com (don't forget to complete the shopping cart checkout to pay!).
All members are receiving new bibs this season, so bib number assignments will be made
to current members.
Early registration deadline is Sun 12/1; registration closes
at 8pm PT Thu 12/5.
You can sign up for the races and also purchase your 2025 Far West Masters membership if you haven't
already done so.
Training camp signup is available online on the Mammoth web site - you can sign up for all four days
or for specific days, as your schedule permits.
(Note: camp days are included for Mammoth Masters team members as part of the season training program)
[11-Nov-2025]
- Reno and Sacramento Ski Swaps
We will be representing FW Masters at the Reno and Sacramento Avalanche Sale Ski Swaps this year
as part of our outreach to add new members. This is also a good opportunity to pick up new gear
for the upcoming season or get rid of anything you and your family have outgrown.
Many of the big brands will also have reps at the event including Atomic, Head, Nordica, Volkl, K2, Salomon and more.
The Reno/UNR event is Fri evening and Sat-Sun Nov. 1-3 at Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Used gear drop-offs will be in store at Ski Pro Reno on Neil Rd and Virginia St during regular store hours.
The Sacramento event is Fri evening and Sat-Sun Nov. 22-24 at Cal Expo Hall .
(check the event site for gear dropoff instructions)
We are looking for volunteers that can help represent FW Masters at these events for 4-4.5hr shifts each day.
If you plan on attending the event to shop, please consider staying and manning our booth to help spread the word
and encourage racers new and old to come race with us this season. We will have flyers with all of the information
on how to join, we just need you there to share your experiences, answer questions and network.
For questions or additional information, contact FWM Recruiting chair Damian Palfini at recruiting@farwestmasters.org.
[27-Oct-2024]
- Fall Forerunner Newsletter
The fall issue of the Forerunner newsletter is out!
Communication director Melissa House has pulled together
all the news and information for the upcoming race season,
including reminders about membership with US Ski & Snowboard
and Far West Masters.
In this issue: "President's Message" from FWM chair Rees Palermo,
information on 2024-25 race season membership and season schedule,
and much more about our Far West masters race program and the upcoming season!
Questions about membership signups?
Contact Mary Feddis at membership@farwestmasters.org
Questions about The Forerunner?
Contact Melissa House at forerunner@farwestmasters.org
Note: the primary distribution method of the Forerunner newsletter will
be electronic publishing through our news email list and here on the web site.
All current members of Far West Masters should receive the newsletter. If you
have any questions, contact us at forerunner@farwestmasters.org for assistance.
[2024-10-14]
- Annual Membership Deadline Reminders
There are two steps to signing up to race with Far West Masters each season. Please take a look at these instructions and take care of your US Ski & Snowboard membership now to take advantage of the lower pricing. We'll give you plenty of time to do the steps in the section marked later.
Why do I need this?
- Racing with Far West Masters requires BOTH a Far West Masters Membership and a US Ski & Snowboard Alpine Master membership
- The US Ski & Snowboard Alpine Master membership is required for all scheduled races on our season calendar
- Your FWM membership dues supports organizing our division race calendar and provides you with a permanent race bib for all our Far West masters races
NOW - US Alpine Master membership
COMING SOON - Far West Masters membership
- 2024-2025 membership renewal for Far West Masters will open in early October on the Masters AdminSkiRacing site
- Far West Masters is waiting for ASR to complete updating the site with improvements for the upcoming season, so membership renewal will open as soon as the vendor completes their updates
- You'll have plenty of time to do this once we send it out
US Ski & Snowboard Sign-Up Reminders
- Most masters should select the "Alpine Master" membership type. Only select the "Alpine Master w/ requirements" membership type if you are required to have SafeSport training and background checks due to your engagement with junior athletes through a US Ski & Snowboard club role.
- Most masters should select "No Club Affiliation" for the US Ski & Snowboard club affiliation. Do NOT select the club at the area where you ski and train unless you are actually a member - the clubs are generally associated only with junior alpine competitor programs.
- At the end of the renewal or new member process, you will be asked to e-sign a release of liability.
If you have questions, please contact membership@farwestmasters.org.
[02-Oct-2024]
- Preliminary 2024 Schedule
The preliminary 2023-2024 race schedule is now available! Scheduling Director Mike Braun
has tried to put together a calendar with a good mix of events at proven venues.
The schedule has some unusual timing this season for some of our traditional events
in consideration of the FIS Masters World Criterium in March, a major event that only
comes to North America every 5 years.
A highlight this season is the Masters National DH Championship in our home division at Mammoth Mountain.
The US masters national championships are hosted this season in Central division
at Granite Peak, WI on Feb. 5-10. The Western Region championship/FIS Masters Cup races
will be held at Beaver Creek CO on Feb. 22-25. The international FIS Masters World Criterium
follows on Mar. 1-7 at Kimberly BC in Canada.
And last, but not least, for the first time since Covid interrupted everyone's plans in March 2020,
we have a season finals event with a banquet gathering planned so we can once again gather with our
racing friends at the end of our competition season.
[04-Sep-2023]
- Palisades Season Finals info
Our final event of the 2024 season will be held at Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley)
with GS races on Fri-Sat Apr. 5-6. In addition to being the final races of the season,
the Bernard Cup trophy will be awarded to the man and woman with fastest combined times
from both races using Bob Bernard's age-handicap formula.
And for the first time since covid shut down travel and gatherings in March 2020... we are having
a season banquet on Saturday evening following the final race of the 2024 season.
The banquet will be in the Palisades Ballroom in the base village from 5:30-10pm.
Price is $55 for BBQ-theme buffet; sign up on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
Along with a relaxing evening gathering with friends and family,
season awards will be announced and we will have raffles and auction items to benefit our
junior athlete scholarship fund.
NOTE: extra banquet tickets contact us at raceadmin@farwestmasters.org
if you need extra banquet tickets for friends and family. We'll coordinate your ticket count
with your ASR banquet signup.
[27-Mar-2024]
- Northstar and Diamond Peak races
What a gorgeous weekend we had with warm, sunny spring weather and great racing conditions
for our 3-day weekend at Northstar and Diamond Peak! Friday's SG races at Northstar featured
two fun courses on the Loggers Loop-Surprise course and the day featured numerous big smiles
as racers hit the finish line. Both races also count for the
2024 National Speed Series,
so we were happy to have racers from Pacific Northwest, Intermountain, and Rocky joining our
crew from Far West.
Racing shifted to nearby Diamond Peak for a pair of SL races on the weekend.
We haven't raced at Diamond Peak for a number years so it was a pleasure to bring this venue back
onto our race calendar. The weather was fabulous, the views spectacular, and the Diamond Peak
race crew ran an outstanding pair of races for us on the Showoff SL track.
In addition to our out-of-division guest racers lured by the Speed Series, it was great to have
a number of new Far West masters racers in the field. We can't promise the same lovely weather
for all our events, but we hope it was a good introduction to masters racing that will bring
them back for more.
The Diamond Peak SL races were also the site for 2024 Viva Italia event, with the trophy
awarded to the top man and woman racer in the combined standings using an age-handicap formula.
The Viva Italia has a legendary history from founder John Gianotti and he would have appreciated
the fantastic conditions we had to celebrate his spirited attitude that ski racing is fun for all ages.
The tentative Viva Italia winners were announced at the post-race awards, pending final age handicap
computations when the completed race data was available, and the confirmed 2024 Viva Italia winners
are Deb Lewis (W09) and Tim Hill (M08).
Complete race results from the SL races at Diamond Peak are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page.
We don't yet have the results data we need to post the Northstar SG results, but as soon as we receive
those race files we'll post updated Season Standings rankings for 2024.
Sat 3/23 update: Northstar SG results are now posted! Sorry for the delay, but the Northstar race results
are now posted on the Race Results page
and the updated season standings going into the final races of the season
at Palisades Tahoe are on the Season Standings page.
[18-Mar-2024; updated 3/23]
- Northstar, Diamond Peak race info
Our next races are two SG's at Northstar on Friday Mar. 15, followed by weekend SL races
at nearby Diamond Peak on Mar. 16-7.
Race registration is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 3/10;
registration closes at ** 8pm Wed 3/13 ** for both events.
See the Diamond Peak event announcement for details on racer lift tickets and link for
signing the required waiver form. We don't yet have those details for Northstar but
will add to the event information as soon as we can confirm the logistics with the Northstar organizers.
** BREAKING NEWS: Thu SL training at Diamond Peak
Diamond Peak will have a SL training day on Thursday Mar. 14, prior to the weekend races.
Cost is $175 for the day, including lift ticket as well as training.
This is a great chance to get in a day of SL training and check out the race hill,
which may be a new venue for many of us.
Sign up for Diamond Peak SL training on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com ASAP so we can
get a head count estimate of those interested. Details to follow soon on whether we'll
charge via ASR or go through a Diamond Peak site to handle payment.
[09-Mar-2024]
- Alpine SL races
Well, it was a beautiful day for racing at Alpine Meadows, after the previous
weekend's blizzard that shut down most of Tahoe and Mammoth for several days.
Unfortunately there was a slight delay when the entire ski area lost power
for 1-1/2 hours just as racers were starting to inspect the first run course.
Thankfully, the power came back on and lifts started running again before we lost our race day!
The efficient Alpine Meadows crew provided us with a good race day despite the late start.
While there had been concerns about soft snow earlier in the week, racer reports
were that the courses held up well throughout the field.
Due to the late time and the long, tiring day for athletes and crew, the jury
decided to shorten the second race to a 1-run SL.
Complete race results are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the updated Season Standings rankings for 2024.
[09-Mar-2024]
- Mt Rose GS races cancelled
We are very disappointed to share the news that the Mt Rose organizers
contacted us this afternoon and have cancelled the GS races scheduled
for Saturday Mar. 9. Their assessment of the snow conditions today on the Slide Mountain
side of Mt Rose after last weekend's major blizzard that shut down most of the Tahoe
region for several days is that the snow is too deep and too soft to be able to
prepare for racing GS on Saturday.
We WILL be racing SL at Alpine Meadows on Friday as planned.
[06-Mar-2024]
- March Forerunner newsletter
The March issue of the Forerunner newsletter is out!
Stories and pictures from our February races and upcoming March events, tips for Far West coaches,
and reports from athletes sponsored by our Far West Masters Scholarship Program.
To catch up on recent issues or dive into past season archives, visit the Forerunner newsletter page:
[04-Mar-2024]
- Alpine and Mt Rose race reminders
Reminders for our races this week on Friday Mar. 8 with two SL races at
Palisades Tahoe/Alpine Meadows and Saturday Mar. 9 for rescheduled Mt Rose McKinney Cup GS races.
Competitor release waivers are REQUIRED at both venues and should be submitted
online in advance.
Alpine Meadows is an Ikon pass resort. Racer lift ticket for both areas can be purchased
online:
Race registration is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 3/3;
registration closes at ** 8pm Wed 3/6 ** for both events.
[02-Mar-2024]
- Alpine and Mt Rose races info
Our next races will be a double-doubleheader weekend
on Friday Mar. 8 with two SL races at Palisades Tahoe/Alpine Meadows,
followed on Saturday Mar. 9 by the rescheduled Mt Rose McKinney Cup GS races.
Race registration is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 3/3;
registration closes at ** 8pm Wed 3/6 ** for both events.
*** NOTE: we are NOT carrying over the original registrations for Mt Rose
on Feb 10 to the Mar 9 reschedule date - we can't assume that everyone signed up originally
will be able to compete in the rescheduled event. If you were entered on the original
race date of Feb. 10, you must RE-REGISTER for the rescheduled Mar. 9 races!!
[27-Feb-2024]
- Mt Rose races rescheduled
We regret to have to announce that the Mt Rose GS races planned for this
Saturday Feb. 10 are being rescheduled. Mt Rose has determined that the snow
conditions will be too soft for racing.
Rose has agreed to reschedule the event to Sat. Mar. 9, which fits well with our
scheduled SL races on Friday Mar. 8 at Alpine Meadows. More details
will be provided soon.
[07-Feb-2024]
- Mt Rose race info
Our next races are coming up in just over a week with a GS doubleheader at Mt. Rose
on Sat Feb. 10, with the annual McKinney Cup trophy awarded to the fastest overall man and women.
Mt. Rose is a favorite venue of many with a great GS hill that provides challenging racing.
Race registration is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 2/2;
registration closes at ** 6pm PT Thu 2/8 **.
(Note the earlier than usual close of registration!!)
Open class reminder: if you want to compete in Open class, contact scoring director
Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org BEFORE close of registration on Thursday evening.
(We can't accept any late requests for this event, sorry). The current list of Open class
competitors is posted on the web site, so if this is your first race of the season and you
want to compete in Open let Deb know ASAP.
- January 30 Forerunner newsletter
After a slow start to the ski season, things finally picked up in January
and we had a first races of the season at Mammoth Mountain.
The new January issue of the Forerunner newsletter is now out with January racing news
along with the President's Message, racing information,
and the new "Coach's Corner" articles from coaches of our masters training
programs around the Far West.
To catch up on recent issues or dive into past season archives, visit the Forerunner newsletter page:
[30-Jan-2024]
- Mammoth GS races
And finally we have racing to kick off the 2024 season!
This weekend we held our first races of the 2024 season with two GS races at Mammoth.
And just to ensure we provide a complete spectrum of the racing experience,
there were weather delays and schedule adjustments (on top of the originally scheduled
SG/DH speed races having been changed to GS races).
Saturday morning arrived gloomy and with fresh snow from a small storm on Friday night
that "overdelivered" and lingered through the day. Mammoth Race Department crews were on
the race hill early to prepare and set the course, but after an hour delay the jury met
and determined to postpone the race to Sunday when better weather conditions were expected.
So no racing Saturday, but we had the afternoon party at Main Street Pizza and heard
reports that there was some good freesking found in the fresh snow! We were pleased
to welcome a number of new racers (11 new racers for our opening weekend), along with
visiting racer Joel Swanson from Central division.
Sunday's weather cleared up, as anticipated, and the expert Mammoth race crew efficiently
ran both GS races to kick off our racing season.
Complete race results are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the first Season Standings rankings for 2024.
[22-Jan-2024]
- 2024 Open Class and Season Scoring
Far West Masters races are conducted following the standard US masters age class rules.
An additional option is used by Far West Masters in our division races, allowing competitors
to elect to be scored in an Open class drawn from all age classes rather than their
age class for race awards and season scoring.
All competitors start within their age group in the race start order but may elect to be
scored for race awards based on the overall ranking of Open class participants rather
than within their age class. The season leader bibs are awarded based on the rankings of the Open class.
Note: due to limited racing in the 2023 "snowpocalypse" season, the 2023 season leader bibs
are carried over for 2024 so that competitors have a chance to wear the season bibs they earned
with their season results in 2022!
The 2024 Open class elections list is started with all current season bib holders registered by default.
Everyone else (including "the usual folks") need to explicitly elect to participate in Open class.
It's your choice - no one is obligated or expected to elect Open class - go Open if you'll have fun doing that,
stay in your age class for scoring and awards if you're happy with the standard age class system.
To elect Open class, contact scoring director Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org.
Open class participants will be noted on start lists with "OP" designation and when possible on the finish board so that
all competitors know who is competing within their age class and who is being scored in the overall Open class.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
to participate in the Open class for any event, you MUST elect Open
no later than the noon the day prior to the race.
Day-of-race Open class changes will not be accepted!
[17-Jan-2024]
- Mammoth SG races changed to GS
Unfortunately, the weather over the past week has not cooperated with our
plan to run SG races this weekend - less snow and more wind than hoped for...
The upper section of the SG course still has exposed areas without enough coverage
for setting a SG course along with the necessary safety fencing.
Given the current conditions and no significant storms forecast in the next few days,
we are changing the weekend event program from 2 SG races each day
to one GS race each day on Sat/Sun 1/20-21. There is good coverage from snowmaking
on the primary front-side race hills (Fascination and ADG), so the GS venues are
in good condition for racing.
Registration updates: we will change all race signups on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com
for the first races each day (SG #1 on Sat, SG #3 on Sun) from SG to GS, with entry fee adjusted
to $45. Entries for the second race each day (SG #2 on Sat, SG #4 on Sun) will be dropped.
Open Training Friday Mammoth will provide an open training
session for all racers on Friday 11am-12:30pm.
Early registration deadline is extended to Wednesday night 1/17
so that racers who wish to sign up for GS are not penalized by the program change.
We want as many possible to be able to race this weekend!!
IMPORTANT: if you only wanted to race SG and do not wish to compete in GS,
please drop your entries before registration closes on Thursday evening
(otherwise you will be charged as a no-show DNS, not what you would want!).
If you have questions or need assistance, contact us at raceadmin@farwestmasters.org and we'll do our best to help.
[Mon 1/15/24 XXam]
- Online Q&A for Granite Peak National Championships
The 2024 Masters National Championships are coming up quickly in just over 3 weeks from now!
An online Q&A zoom session is being held tonight at 5:30pm PT Sun. Jan 14
where you can learn more about host area Granite Peak WI and get your questions
answered about the venue and the event.
The session will be hosted by:
- Lauren Beckos - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Masters Manager
- Ryan Fuller - Alpine Masters National Working Group Chair
- Greg Fisher - General Manager of Granite Peak
Join the zoom call: Jan 14, 2024 6:30pm MT, 5:30pm PT
https://usskiandsnowboard-org.zoom.us/j/89615129549
Meeting ID: 896 1512 9549
One tap mobile +12532158782,,89615129549# US (Tacoma)
On Facebook: @usalpinemasters (https://www.facebook.com/usalpinemasters)
National Championships info on usskiandsnowboard.org/masters:
Early registration deadline is Monday Jan. 22; registration deadline Friday Feb. 2.
Cancellation deadline for full refund is Monday Jan. 29, so get your entries in now if you're considering competing.
[14-Jan-2024]
- Mammoth Speed Races Update - DH Cancelled
With great regret, the National Championship and NSS downhill races scheduled for Mon-Tue Jan. 22-23 at Mammoth Mountain have been cancelled. As most of you know, it's been a slow, dry start this winter in the Sierra with very little natural snowfall. Mammoth has done an amazing job with snowmaking and grooming in order to open a considerable amount of terrain, but with only a few relatively small storms so far in January the snowpack is still well below normal.
There is good manmade coverage on the primary race hills (Fascination and ADG), enabling racing and training. However, the upper sections of the speed track still have exposed rock areas and cannot yet support a suitable race surface with the necessary safety fencing. Following intensive discussions with Mammoth Race Department and Mountain Operations on current conditions and the weather outlook over the next two weeks, it was concluded that it would be nearly impossible to prepare the DH course for racing.
We still hope to be able to hold the scheduled Sat-Sun SG races on Jan. 20-21, if we can get some assistance from the weather fairy over the coming week. We will definitely be racing that weekend, but we may need to switch to GS if the full SG course cannot be properly prepared. We'll see how conditions evolve this week, with a couple more storm possibilities in the forecast keeping our hopes alive, and reassess again next Monday Jan.15.
Pending agreement of the Masters National Committee, we will count the two Sunday SG races for the National Speed Series in place of the cancelled DH races. Details will be confirmed as soon as possible, as we know racers have made travel plans based on the DH and NSS schedule and some are coming from other divisions.
No promises, but we will also explore the possibility of adding a SG training day on Friday Jan. 19 before the weekend races.
For everyone who made lodging reservations through the event lodging package ("USSA/FIS Far West DH/SG 2024"", Group ID: 34901), we are confirming the details but expect that you will be able to cancel and get a refund if you need to change your travel plans due to the changes in the event schedule.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact us at raceadmin@farwestmasters.org and we'll do our best to help.
[Mon 1/8/24 9pm]
- Race Signups and 2024 Major Events
Happy New Year to all, with a glad welcome to the late start of our winter season
finally showing signs of bringing us some much-needed snowfall.
Race signups are open on our masters.AdminSkiRacing.com registration site
for all of our 2024 Far West Masters events.
Registration is also open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com for all of the 2024
regional and national championship events and the US FIS Masters races.
The schedule is a little unusual this year, with the national championships in February
to accomodate the FIS Masters World Criterium in early March at Kimberly British Columbia.
National Championships
The 2024 Masters National Championships will be held in Central Division (for the first time ever!)
at Granite Peak WI on Feb. 5-10. The 2024 nationals are a 4-event championship with SG, GS, SL, and a parallel GS.
There will also be a second SG race that is not part of the national championship scoring.
Both SG races are part of the 2024 National Speed Series.
FIS Masters Cup/Western Region Championships
The 2024 Western Championships will be held Feb. 23-25, 2024 at Beaver Creek CO.
The 2024 Western Region Championships are being held in conjunction with the FIS Masters Cup event
and will consist of 2 SG races, 2 one-run GS races, and SL. Both SG races also count in the 2024 National Speed Series
Eastern Region Championships
The 2024 Eastern Championships will be held Mar. 8-10, 2024 at Gore Mountain NY.
The Eastern championships are a 4-race SG-SG-GS-SL event. Both SG races also count in the 2024 National Speed Series standings.
FIS Masters World Criterium
Once every 5 years the FIS Masters World Criterium, a huge event on the international
masters calendar, comes to North America. This year the honor falls to Canada
and will be hosted at Kimberley, British Columbia CA on March 1-7, 2024.
US competitors must contact national Masters Manager Lauren Beckos at lauren.beckos@usskiandsnowboard.org
to submit their entries.
[08-Jan-204]
- January 2 Forerunner newsletter
Ring in the New Year - the storm door is finally showing signs of opening a crack and
newsletter editor Melissa House has put together the new January issue of the Forerunner newsletter.
Along with some of our traditional content such as the President's Message and racing information,
the new "Coach's Corner" articles have news from the head coaches of the masters training
programs around the Far West.
Happy New Year to everyone and let's all get together on the race hill soon!
[02-Jan-2024]
- Mammoth opening races cancelled
With regret, the decision was made this morning to cancel our scheduled opening GS/SL
races at Mammoth this coming weekend on Dec. 2-3. The planned race venue of Andy's Double Gold (ADG)
is the Mammoth Race Department's top priority for snowmaking and slope preparation right now
and good progress is clearly being made now that we (finally!!) have good snowmaking conditions, but
the assessment today is that it's not certain that we can achieve a good racing surface along with
enough coverage for the necessary safety fencing on the sides of the run in time for the races.
So nature is feeding us feast or famine - last season we had bountiful early snow (too much even!),
this season is starting off dry and warm everywhere in the Sierra. Mammoth has their snowmaking
crews going full blast and is working to open more runs each day, so there is some decent early season
freeskiing for any who had plans to come this week for camp or the races - definitely enough to get out
and make some turns.
Reminder from MRD: If you made lodging reservations for the race weekend at the Mammoth Mountain Inn or Juniper Springs,
and/or pre-purchased discounted lift tickets, please call (800) 626-6684 for all lodging and ticket cancellation requests.
Be sure to mention Group ID: 38497 (event ""USSA/FIS Early Season Races 2023") to your customer service representative to ease the process.
[27-Nov-2023]
- Mammoth Races Update
Some encouraging news from Mammoth today: additional terrain has been opening through this
holiday week and Mammoth Race Department reports that conditions are currently
favorable for snowmaking. MRD will continue to assess the safety aspect throughout the next few days
and send out another update on Monday, November 27th with the outlook for our masters season opening races.
Safety is obviously a priority, we need snow levels deep enough to set gates and fencing on the race venue.
We encourage everyone considering racing next weekend to get your entries in before the
Sunday night early registration deadline. There is no penalty for registering now, you
can still withdraw next week if your plans change, but it really helps the organizers and our
event planning to have a good estimate of the field size the week prior to the event.
So stop procrastinating, get your entries in now!
Race signups are open on our masters.AdminSkiRacing.com registration site.
Early registration deadline is Sun 11/26; registration closes
at 8pm PT Wed 11/29.
You can sign up for the races and also purchase your 2024 Far West Masters membership if you haven't
already done so.
[24-Nov-2024]
- Mammoth training camp cancelled
With regret, Mammoth Race Department has just announced the decision that our masters
training camp that was scheduled for next Tue-Fri Nov. 28-Dec. 1 is cancelled. The decision is made
based on "safety precautions, snow depths, and current warm temperatures impeding on our ability to make snow".
Disappointing news, though not entirely a surprise given the slow start to the winter season
for all our Sierra ski areas.
Reminder from MRD: If you made lodging reservations for the training camp at the Mammoth Mountain Inn or Juniper Springs,
and/or pre-purchased discounted lift tickets, please call (800) 626-6684 for all lodging and ticket cancellation requests.
Be sure to mention Group ID: 38497 to your customer service representative to ease the process.
Mammoth is currently open for skiing, though with limited terrain availability, so there is a least
an opportunity to get out and make some turns for any coming next week. MRD is planning to provide an update on the outlook
for our races the following weekend of Dec. 2-3 on this coming Friday Nov. 24.
[19-Nov-2023]
- Membership and Race Signups are open
Race signups for Far West Masters are opening this week on our masters.AdminSkiRacing.com registration site.
Signups for the season opening GS/SL races at Mammoth on Dec. 2-3 are now open and signups
for the rest of our scheduled races will be added this week.
Membership Reminders: you join or renew your Far West Masters membership by paying
dues for this season on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com. Create or log into your account,
just as you do for race signups, and purchase "2023-2024 Far West Masters membership" on the
Event Signup page. (Don't forget to go to checkout to complete your dues payment!)
Deadline for renewing members to avoid late fees is Nov. 15.
[06-Nov-2023]
- Mammoth Dec races and camp
Our opening event of the 2023-2024 Far West Masters season is only a month away!
We have Sat/Sun GS/SL races at Mammoth Mountain on Dec. 2-3, the weekend following
the Thanksgiving holiday. Mammoth is also hosting a 4-day GS/SL training camp
on Tue-Fri Nov. 29-Dec. 1 prior to the weekend races, which is good opportunity
to get on skis and get in some preseason race training to get warmed up.
See the event info announcement and training camp flyer for additional details.
Mammoth is offering a discounted lodging package for camp week and race weekend.
Race signups are now open on our masters.AdminSkiRacing.com registration site.
Early registration deadline is Sun 11/26; registration closes
at 8pm PT Wed 11/29.
You can sign up for the races and also purchase your 2024 Far West Masters membership if you haven't
already done so.
[06-Nov-2023]
- Gate DeMattei memorial service
It was with tremendous sadness that we received the news of the passing
of Gate DeMattei on September 26. We can genuinely say that Gate was admired,
loved, and respected. He will be deeply missed by the masters racing community
in Far West and around the nation.
Our October Forerunner included a story and photos of Gate, with memories from fellow
Far West Masters and his obituary can be found online
Funeral service and memorial gathering for Gate will be held on Thursday Oct. 12.
- 10am - viewing
- 11am - rosary and Mass - Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Tahoe City CA
- 2pm-6pm - memorial reception - Bar One - Olympic House, 1990 Olympic Vly Rd. Olympic Valley CA
[05-Oct-2023]
- Fall Forerunner newsletter
The fall issue of the Forerunner newsletter is out!
New Communications director Melissa House has pulled together a wealth
of information for the upcoming season, with the President's Message
from our new division chair Rees Palermo and including details
on the season race schedule, Far West Masters membership, and more.
And we are deeply sad to include a late-breaking report with the news of
the passing of Gate DeMattei in late September. Gate was a champion, a role model,
an inspiration for living a full and balanced life. He will be very greatly missed.
Note: the primary distribution method of the Forerunner newsletter will
be electronic publishing through our news email list and here on the web site.
All current members of Far West Masters should receive the newsletter. If you
have any questions, contact us at forerunner@farwestmasters.org for assistance.
[02-Oct-2023]
- 2024 Season Schedule
The 2023-2024 season schedule is now posted and the web site Season Schedule page updated.
Far West Masters membership will open in October on our Masters AdminSkiRacing registration site
and race signups will be added soon after.
[28-Sep-2023]
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